10/7/15
Ruinart & Dom Perignon Pre-Arrival & Re-Arrival; 2010 Bordeaux; Vincent Paris; Bruno Giacosa; Grange des Peres; K Vintners New Releases/ Awesome Scores; Andre Clouet; Big Bottles of Champagne
~~~~~~~
Arriving Friday, October 16th
Moet & Chandon Dom Perignon Brut 2005 750ML ($179.95) $149 pre-arrival special
James Suckling 97 points “I believe that the 2005 DP is the best since 2002, which remains the best recent vintage and is probably only eclipsed by the amazing 100-point 1996. The 2005 is a full-bodied DP with so much richness and loads of ripe fruit such as pineapple and papaya. It has a wonderful, creamy texture and a long and intense finish. It’s a Champagne that fully satisfies but at the same time challenges you with its strength, depth and persistence on the palate.”
Moet & Chandon Dom Perignon Brut 2006 750ML ($179.95) $149 pre-arrival special
Winery note “Nose: The immediate impression is of the mildness of the pure, airy, bright bouquet. A floral, fruity pastel tone then unfolds and quickly darkens into candied fruit, ripe hay and toasted notes, along with hints of licorice. Palate: The wine’s opulence – contained and succulent, round at heart – reveals itself in the mouth. The envelope slides and stretches, and the wine becomes more complex and edgy, silkier than it is creamy. The whole eventually melts into an exquisite bitterness tinged with the briny taste of the sea.”
This is the lowest listed price in the USA today!
The next best price is $174.99
Dom Ruinart Blanc de Blancs Millesime Brut 2004 750ML ($179.95) $139 pre-arrival special
Antonio Galloni 97 points “The 2004 Dom Ruinart is just as brilliant and viscerally thrilling as it has always been. If anything, the 2004 has shut down considerably over the last six months. Tightly coiled and exceptionally beautiful, the 2004 boasts fabulous intensity, class and pedigree. The flavors are vibrant, chiseled and crystalline in their precision. Time in bottle is doing wonders for the 2004. This is a tremendous showing.” AG
Moet & Chandon Dom Perignon P2 Plenitude Brut 1998 750ML ($399.95) $319 Re-arrival special
Wine Spectator 98 points “Offers precision and finely detailed form, powered by an expansive palate of flavor. The layers of ripe crushed blackberry and glazed apricot fruit complement the saline-tinged minerality and oyster shell notes, graced by hints of pastry, honeycomb and exotic spice. Mouthwatering and persistent on the zesty finish. Drink now through 2030.” WS
James Suckling 97 points “A P2 release indicating it has been matured to the 2nd Plenitude, the middle stage of Dom Perignon’s three-phase life as defined by Richard Geoffroy. This is a wine with some real tension between complexity and freshness that makes for incredibly engaging drinking. The nose offers up a little white peppery edge from the pinot; oyster shell saline freshness, red florals, sweet smelling woody spices and brioche, spiced biscuits and subtle roasted coffee notes – impressively complex. The phenolics register on the palate as a discreetly mineral, saline character, there’s sorbet-like texture through the middle before finishing with comet-like line and length.” JS
~~~~~~~
2010 Bordeaux
Sitting Among the Greats
Across Bordeaux, the year 2010 began slowly. Winter was long and difficult; yields were naturally reduced in many estates due to uneven budding, aiding concentration. Late spring was cool and damp, with consistently warm days and cool nights through summer. September brought rain, aiding in phenolic ripeness after a few months’ worth of a drought. 2010 was the driest on record, in fact, since 1949.
Take it with a grain of salt if you must, but Robert Parker deemed 2010 in Bordeaux “one of the three greatest Bordeaux vintages I have tasted in my career.” There’s no question that the vintage will age wonderfully, what with the combination of high alcohol, lower pH, huge tannin, and solid acid. We’re fortunate to have a number of well-appointed selections from Bordeaux’s 2010 vintage, as seen below.
2010 White Bordeaux Available Here Now
Chateau Coutet ‘Opalie de Coutet’ 2010 750ML ($69.95) $59 special, 6 bottles available
Wine Spectator 91 points “Rich, with lemon curd and heather notes leading the way, followed by flavors of candied citrus, grapefruit rind, citrus oil and a flash of brioche. Still quite fresh, but the long finish hints at a mellow nuttiness that will develop with age.” WS
2010 Red Bordeaux Available Here Now
Chateau Mongravey, Margaux 2010 750ML ($49.95) $28 special, 15 bottles available
James Suckling 92 points, Wine Spectator 91 points “An aromatic red, with lilac and warm cherry confiture notes giving way to flavors of crushed plum, blackberry coulis and roasted alder wood. Features good grip through the finish. Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot and Cabernet Franc. Drink now through 2020.” WS
This is the lowest listed price in the USA today!
The next best price is $34.99
Chateau L’Ecuyer, Pomerol 2010 750ML ($49.95) $39 special, 36+ bottles available
Case-12 Chateau L’Ecuyer, Pomerol 2010 750ML ($549.95) $419 special, 5 cases available (that’s only $34.92/bottle!)
Wine Spectator 92 points “Creamy and inviting, with dark raspberry, blackberry coulis and steeped plum fruit gliding along, carried by licorice snap, Lapsang souchong tea and singed apple wood notes. Fleshy but well-defined, driven to the finish by embedded structure. Best from 2015 through 2025. Tasted twice, with consistent notes.” WS
This is the lowest listed price in the USA today!
The average price is $45
Chateau Larose Perganson, Haut-Medoc 2010 750ML ($49.95) $39 special, 2 bottles available
Wine Spectator 90 points “Sports bold, modern toast, with overt anise and blueberry notes leading the way, backed by racy plum and raspberry fruit. The solid finish shows the vintage’s telltale graphite spine, offering lively acidity for balance. Best from 2014 through 2020.” JM
Chateau Sociando-Mallet, Haut-Medoc 2010 750ML ($69.95) $59 special, 21 bottles available
Stephen Tanzer–Vinous 92 points “(55% cabernet sauvignon, 40% merlot and 5% cabernet franc): Good bright red-ruby. Pungent, expressive nose offers black raspberry, blueberry, bitter chocolate, leather and flowers. Densely packed, juicy and sweet, with excellent inner-mouth energy to the black raspberry and mineral flavors complicated by sexy smoky oak. Lovely ripeness and vinosity here. Finishes with substantial firm tannins that will support a couple decades of graceful evolution in bottle. Like some past outstanding vintages of Sociando-Mallet, this will make a great ringer in future tastings with classified growers from the northern Medoc.” ST
Chateau Cantemerle, Haut-Medoc 2010 750ML ($69.95) $59 special, 36+ bottles available
Robert Parker 94+ points “The wine needs a good 7-10 years of cellaring and should keep for 30 more years, but this is the finest Cantemerle I have encountered in my professional career of tasting young vintages (dating back 34 years now). Stunningly deep ruby/purple, with a beautiful nose of spring flowers intermixed with perfumed raspberry and blueberry notes, it exhibits a sort of cool-climate character. Broad, rich and intense on the palate, the wine has plenty of tannins, but they are sweet and well-integrated. Everything is delicately entwined into this beautiful, medium to full-bodied, dense purple wine, which shows stunning character and a prodigious potential for development. This is definitely a major sleeper of the vintage and even better than I thought from barrel. With its 2010, this classified growth located in the southern end of the Medoc may well have made a modern-day version of their legendary 1949.” RP
Echo de Lynch Bages Chateau Haut-Bages Averous, Pauillac 2010 750ML ($79.95) $59 special, 12 bottles available
James Suckling 92 points “A juicy wine with strawberry and blueberry character. It’s full-bodied, with velvety tannins and a fresh finish. Lots of ripe fruit. Excellent second wine of Lynch-Bages. Better in 2015.” JS
Chateau L’Eglise-Clinet ‘La Petite Eglise’, Pomerol 2010 750ML ($99.95) $79 special, 8 bottles available
Vinopolnote: 100% Merlot from the second label of the esteemed Chateau l’Eglise.
Chateau Leoville Poyferre, Saint-Julien 2010 750ML ($249.95) $199 special, 2 bottles available
Robert Parker 98+ points “The wine out distances both Leoville Las Cases and Leoville Barton, but all three of them are compelling efforts. Full-bodied, dense purple in color, with floral notes intermixed with blackberries, cassis, graphite and spring flowers, this full-bodied, legendary effort is long and opulent, with wonderfully abundant yet sweet tannin, a skyscraper-like mid-palate and a thrilling, nearly one-minute finish. This spectacular effort from Poyferre that should drink well for 30+ years.” RP
Chateau Pichon Longueville Comtesse de Lalande, Pauillac 2010 750ML ($299.95) $279 special, 4 bottles available
Robert Parker 95+ points “The 2010 Pichon Lalande is performing extremely well and at the top of the range I predicted several years ago. A final blend dominated much more by Cabernet Sauvignon than usual (66% Cabernet Sauvignon, 24% Merlot, 7% Cabernet Franc and the rest Petit Verdot), the wine is a tighter, more tannic and structured version of this famed Pauillac, which often tends to have more of a St-Julien-like personality than most Pauillacs. Structured, backward and tannic, yet showing a fat mid-palate that is more savory, broader and more expansive than I remember from barrel, this wine is somewhat reminiscent of the 1986, given the Cabernet Sauvignon domination of the blend. Full-bodied, impressively endowed, and less sexy and velvety than normal, this is a somewhat different style of Pichon Lalande than most readers have been used to. Whether you like it more or less will depend on your point of view, but this wine, unlike most Pichon Lalandes, needs a good 5-7 years of cellaring and should keep for 30+ years.” RP
~~~~~
Vincent Paris
Native to Cornas, Vincent Paris has been making wine since 1997. If it counts for anything, he’s got good neighbors looking after him – Auguste Clape and Thierry Allemand are both next door. Once Vincent’s uncle Robert-Michel – an esteemed grower – retired from winemaking, a bidding war ensued for his land which included the likes of Chave. Robert-Michel preferred to keep things in the family, selling to Vincent for below market value. Through hard work in the field and cellar alike, the ensuing years have proven Robert-Michel’s gesture to be as worthwhile as it was wise.
Vincent Paris is now known to be among the finest and most consistent producers within the Northern Rhone. We’re proud to stock a wide variety of his wines, as seen below.
Vincent Paris Wines Available Here Now:
Domaine Vincent Paris Cornas Granit 30 2012 750ML ($59.95) $49 special, 18 bottles available
Wine Advocate 92-95 points “Looking first at the 2012s, the Cornas Granit 30 offers a gorgeous bouquet of spring flowers, liquid rock and assorted black and blue fruits in its stylish, perfumed and elegant style. Full-bodied, rich and still youthfully grapy, this pure, balanced and classically styled Cornas will benefit from short-term cellaring and keep for 15-20 years.” WA
Domaine Vincent Paris Cornas Granit 30 2013 750ML ($41.95) $34.80 special, 21 bottles available
Josh Raynolds–Vinous 90-91 points “(raised in used demi-muids): Bright violet color. Fresh red and dark berries and potpourri on the intensely perfumed nose. Silky and broad in the mouth, with sweet black raspberry and floral pastille flavors buffered by zesty acidity and a hint of white pepper. Closes silky, stony and very long, with hints of spicecake and cola.” JR
Domaine Vincent Paris Cornas Granit 60 Vieilles Vignes 2012 750ML ($69.95) $59 special, 5 bottles available
Wine Advocate 94-97 points “Similarly styled, yet slightly richer and more tannic, the 2012 Cornas Granit 60 has incredible notes of black raspberry, powdered rock, graphite, licorice and liquid violets. Also full-bodied, with superb concentration and depth, as well as a firm tannic spine, this gorgeous effort should be given 4-5 years of bottle age and consumed over the following 10-15 years.” WA
Domaine Vincent Paris Cornas Granit 60 Vieilles Vignes 2013 750ML ($59.95) $46.80 special, 23 bottles available
Wine Advocate 92-94+ points “The 2013 Cornas Granit 60 Vielles Vignes is serious stuff. Inky colored and loaded with cassis, black raspberry, violets and licorice, it has beautiful acidity in its full-bodied, ripe, polished style. It has rock-solid mid-palate concentrated, and terrific length, so give it a handful of years in the cellar and drink bottles through 2025. Like all of Paris’s Cornas releases, it sees only older barrels.” WA
Josh Raynolds–Vinous 91-92 points “(raised in a combination of mostly used demi-muids and older barriques): Dark ruby. Smoky, deeply pitched aromas of blackberry, cherry compote, licorice pastille and violet. Fresh and lively on the palate, offering focused dark fruit and violet pastille flavors lifted by a smoky mineral element. Smoothly blends power with energy, with an array of peppery spice and floral qualities lingering on the long, gently tannic finish.” JR
Domaine Vincent Paris Cornas La Geynale 2013 750ML ($69.95) $54.80 special,
Wine Advocate 92-94 points “The 2013 Cornas la Geynale is slightly more perfumed and wild than the Granit 60, with terrific black pepper, smoked earth, leather, meat and lots of black currant fruit. While from a cooler vintage, it doesn’t lack for stuffing and has full-bodied richness, a layered, ripe texture and sweet tannin. It’s another rocking wine from this young vigneron who’s at the top of his game.” WA
Josh Raynolds–Vinous 92-93 points “Inky ruby. An intensely perfumed bouquet evokes dark berries, smoky herbs, potpour”ri and minerals, with a hint of olive paste in the background. Lively black raspberry and bitter cherry flavors are underscored by smoky minerality and pick up deeper notes of candied licorice and sweet chewing tobacco with air. Leaves behind spicy dark fruit and mineral notes on a very persistent, energetic finish. These vines were planted in 1910, making them among the oldest in the appellation.” JR
~~~~~
Bruno Giacosa
Revisiting the Classics
The triumph of Barolo and Barbaresco can be attributed to a few people, Bruno Giacosa most certainly among them. Through the 1960’s, Giacosa – alongside Gaja and Produttori – worked to establish themselves on a global scale.
At the time, Bruno only purchased grapes from a few select growers. He began bottling single-vineyard ‘cru’-denominated wines in 1967, and was one of the only producers to bottle Arneis though the 70’s. Come the 1980’s, Giacosa began buying some serious property – first the Falletto vinyard, perhaps his hallmark – and later, segments of the esteemed Asili and Rabajá vineyards.
In the ensuing years, Giacosa has continued to make wine with the approach of a perfectionist. He will choose to not bottle any wine at all if a vintage is not to his liking, and bottles under a red label for absolutely extraordinary vintages. Along with head oenoligist Dante Scaglione, some of the most captivating wine in the world has been poured from bottles bearing the Giacosa name.
Bruno Giacosa Available Here Now
Falletto di Bruno Giacosa Asili, Barbaresco DOCG 2003 750ML ($219.95) $99 special, 10 bottles available
Stephen Tanzer 93 points “Medium red. Very ripe aromas and flavors of strawberry liqueur and smoke. Surprisingly sappy and fresh, with a sexy sweetness leavened by lively acidity. There’s a liqueur-like quality to this 2003 along with a creamy richness of texture. Features a rising, fresh finish rare for the vintage and fine, granular, building tannins.” ST
This is the lowest listed price in the USA today!
The average price is $127
Falletto di Bruno Giacosa Rabaja, Barbaresco DOCG 2005 750ML ($219.95) $133 special, 17 bottles available
Wine Spectator 95 points “There’s wonderful perfumes in this young Barbaresco, with flowers and ripe berries, as well as strawberry. Full-bodied, chewy and long. Massive on the finish. A superb wine.” WS
Wine Advocate 94+ points “The 2005 Barbaresco Rabaja is the densest and richest of these 2005 Barbarescos. Because it is aged in a slightly smaller cask, the wine shows an explosive personality along with some oak nuances that require bottle age to settle down. This muscular Barbaresco resonates on the palate with layers of spiced, mentholated dark cherries, minerals and licorice. It remains a dense, structured and primary wine in need of serious bottle age for the firm tannins to melt away. This, too, is a sublime wine from Bruno Giacosa. Anticipated maturity: 2013-2025.” WA
This is the lowest listed price in the USA today!
The next best price is $148.99
Falletto di Bruno Giacosa Vigna Croera, Barolo DOCG 2004 750ML ($279.95) $149 special, 3 bottles available
Wine Advocate 90 points “The 2004 Barolo Vigna Croera reveals pretty aromatics and notes of smoke, tar, roses, herbs and the small red fruits that are characteristic of the wines of La Morra. Made in a medium-bodied delicate style it possesses a graceful, feminine personality and finessed tannins.”WA
This is the lowest listed price in the USA today!
The next best price is $169.95
Falletto di Bruno Giacosa ‘Falletto’, Barolo DOCG 2005 750ML ($249.95) $149 special, 36+ bottles available
Wine Advocate & Stephen Tanzer 94 points “The 2005 Barolo Falletto offers up a gorgeous bouquet of red cherries, flowers, spices and menthol. This is a relatively delicate, elegant Barolo Falletto yet it offers gorgeous balance, tons of inner perfume and a long, refined finish. It is one of the overachievers in 2005. Anticipated maturity: 2015-2025.”WA
Falletto di Bruno Giacosa ‘Falletto’, Barolo DOCG 2008 1.5L ($419.95) $319 special, 10 magnums available
Wine Advocate 96+ points “The 2005 Barolo Le Rocche del Falletto is a massive, towering Barolo loaded with tons of rich, primary fruit. The wine remains powerful, dense and muscular with superb length even if it is a smaller-scaled Barolo compared to previous great vintages. That said, when I came back to the wine after it had been in the glass for an hour or so, I found that the wine had grown remarkably.” WA
This is the lowest listed price in the USA today!
The next best price is $375
Falletto di Bruno Giacosa ‘Le Rocche del Falletto’, Barolo DOCG 2005 1.5L ($499.95) $419 special, 4 magnums available
Falletto di Bruno Giacosa ‘Le Rocche del Falletto’, Barolo DOCG 2005 750ML ($249.95) $169 special, 18 bottles available
Wine Advocate 96+ points, Wine Spectator & Stephen Tanzer 95 points “The 2005 Barolo Le Rocche del Falletto is a massive, towering Barolo loaded with tons of rich, primary fruit. The wine remains powerful, dense and muscular with superb length even if it is a smaller-scaled Barolo compared to previous great vintages. That said, when I came back to the wine after it had been in the glass for an hour or so, I found that the wine had grown remarkably. While the 2005 doesn’t have the explosive personality of the 2004, it remains an awesome achievement in this vintage. Anticipated maturity: 2015-2035.”WA
Falletto di Bruno Giacosa ‘Le Rocche del Falletto’, Barolo DOCG 2009 750ML ($199.95) $179 special, 1 bottle available
Wine Spectator 95 points “Round and supple, with firm tannins underneath, this red evokes cherry, wild strawberry, tobacco, leather and underbrush flavors. Harmonious in a taut, dense way, offering a long, savory finish. Becomes racier with air, showing fine energy and drive. Best from 2017 through 2032.” WS
~~~~~~~
Grange des Peres
Home on La Grange
“Élevage” is shorthand for the development and maturation of wine, akin to an upbringing. Just as wine goes through these processes – from vine to bottle – the winemaker goes through similar steps in their development. With that in mind, Laurent Vaillé is one winemaker with a very fine “élevage.”
Vaillé learned the trade from a bit of a who’s-who in French wine: his resume includes working terms at Coche-Dury, Chave, and Domaine Trévallon. He purchased his own land in 1989 in Saint-Hillaire, within the Languedoc-Roussillon. Taking dynamite to the hard limestone of his new land, Vaillé cleared out a nice little patch for his to begin his story. Sourcing vine cuttings from his former teachers – Gérard Chave gave him Syrah, Marsanne, and Rousanne, while Domaine Trévallon provided Cabernet Sauvignon.
The resulting wines are bottled as “Vin de Pays de l’Herault Rouge and Vin de Pays de l’Herault Blanc,” a rather humble nomenclature for such iconic wines. The red, a blend of 40% Syrah, 40% Mourvedre, 10% Cabernet, and 10% Counoise, is a hugely textured, layered and intense wine which nods towards the great wines of the southern Rhone while remaining decidedly its own thing. Each varietal is harvested and vinified separately before spending two years in barrel. The white of the domaine, 80% Roussane, 10% Marsanne, and 10% Chardonnay, is a refined effort of co-fermentation, barreled for malolactic fermentation, and then aged in oak.
Typically scooped up soon after hitting the market, these wines are a most perfect accompaniment to that southern French recipe you’ve been dying to whip up. Pour generously.
Grange des Peres Wines Available Here Now
Domaine de la Grange des Peres Blanc, IGP Pays de l’Herault 2011 1.5L ($259.95) $219 special, 3 magnumsavailable
VinopolNote: 80% Roussanne 10% Marsanne 10% Chardonnay. Vines are 15-20 years old. Vineyard is glacial scree and limestone.
This is the only listing in the USA today!
Domaine de la Grange des Peres, IGP Pays de l’Herault 2011 750ML ($119.95) $99 special, 36+ bottles available
Domaine de la Grange des Peres, IGP Pays de l’Herault 2011 1.5L ($249.95) $219 special, 4 magnums available
Wine Spectator 91 points “A distinctive red, this has dried red berry and meaty notes supported by a tangy acidity. With lightly chewy tannins, this shows savory spice, bitter herb and fresh earth flavors on the finish. Syrah, Mourvèdre, Cabernet Sauvignon and Counoise. Drink now through 2017. 165 cases imported.” WS
The magnum is the lowest listed price in the USA today!
~~~~~
K Vintners New Releases
Arriving October 16th
Charles Smith K Vintners The Cattle King Syrah, Snipes Mountain 2012 750ML ($149.95) $119 pre-arrival special
Wine Advocate 99 points “One of the greatest Syrahs coming out of Washington is the 2012 Syrah Cattle King, and it’s every bit as good as the more widely known Royal City Syrah. Coming from the Upland Vineyard on Snipes Mountain, my notes start with “wow,” and then include a few more expletives. Exhibiting sensational notes of blackberry, cassis, licorice, crushed flowers, crushed rocks and graphite, this inky colored 2012 is full-bodied, massively concentrated and seamless, with incredible purity and length. If I had a bottle, I’d drink it tonight. Nevertheless, I’m sure it will evolve gracefully for at least another decade.” JD
Charles Smith ‘Royal City’ Syrah, Washington 2012 750ML ($219.95) $199 pre-arrival special
Wine Advocate 99 points “Another wine that flirts with perfection is the 2012 Syrah Royal City. From the Stoneridge Vineyard in the Columbia Valley, it offers up a smorgasbord of aromas and flavors, including kirsch and dark fruits, gamy meats, pepper, liquid rock and olive brine. Insanely textured, with full-bodied richness and power, loads of sweet tannin and blockbuster length, give it a year or so and then drink this incredible Syrah over the following decade.” WA
This is the only listing in the USA today!
Charles Smith K Vintners The Hidden Syrah, Wahluke Slope 2012 750ML ($149.95) $119 pre-arrival special
Wine Advocate 98 points “One of the most impressive Syrahs from Washington is Smith’s The Hidden, which comes all from the Northridge Vineyard on the Wahluke slope. The 2012 Syrah The Hidden Northridge Vineyard certainly doesn’t disappoint and has jaw-dropping good notes of black and blue fruits, ground pepper, violets, lavender and smoked meats that flow seamlessly to a voluptuously textured, full-bodied, still young and yet evolved Syrah that will benefit from short-term cellaring, and have 15 years or more of overall longevity. This is truly spectacular.” JD
Charles Smith K Vintners The Deal Sundance Vineyard Syrah, Columbia Valley 2012 750ML ($49.95) $39 pre-arrival special
Wine Advocate 93 points “The 2012 Syrah The Deal Sundance Vineyard is another great vintage here. Giving up lots of minerality in its classic Syrah nose of smoked meats, licorice, toasted spice and both kirsch and darker berry fruit, it’s voluptuous, full-bodied, concentrated and already drinking beautifully. Given its balance, it will have a decade or more of longevity.” JD
This is the lowest listed price in the USA today!
Charles Smith K Vintners ‘Guido’, Walla Walla Valley 2012 750ML ($49.95) $41.90 pre-arrival special
Wine Advocate 91 points “The 2012 Sangiovese Guido sports a translucent ruby color to go with outstanding notes of black cherries, dried herbs, rose petal and cured meats. It’s nicely balanced, has classic typicity and will have a decade of longevity” JD
This is the lowest listed price in the USA today!
Charles Smith K Vintners Klein Blend, Walla Walla Valley 2012 750ML ($99.95) $79 pre-arrival special
Wine Advocate 96 points “A blend of 41% Merlot, 30% Cabernet Sauvignon and 29% Cabernet Franc, the 2012 Klein (they do two wines from this site, a 100% Syrah and this Bordeaux blend) has fabulous Cabernet notes of currants, ground herbs, crushed rocks and graphite to go with a deep, full-bodied, layered, concentrated style on the palate. There’s an upfront feel here due to the wealth of fruit, but it has ample tannic grip through the mid-palate and finish. Give it a few years, it will knock your socks off for at least the following 10-15 years.” JD
Charles Smith K Vintners Stoneridge Vineyard Cabernet Sauvignon, Columbia Valley 2012 750ML ($49.95) $41.90 pre-arrival special
Wine Advocate 93 points “A classic, structured effort, the 2012 Cabernet Sauvignon Stoneridge Vineyard (100% Cabernet Sauvignon) gives up lots of graphite, leafy herbs and dried violet nuances to go with ample kirsch and black cherry fruit. Focused, nicely balanced, with a full, concentrated mid-palate, give it 2-3 years and enjoy bottles through 2027.” JD
This is the lowest listed price in the USA today!
The next best price is $45
Charles Smith K Vintners The Beautiful Syrah, Walla Walla Valley 2013 750ML ($69.95) $59 pre-arrival special
Charles Smith K Vintners Charlotte, Walla Walla Valley 2012 750ML ($69.95) $59 pre-arrival special
This is the lowest listed price in the USA today!
K Vintners Wines Available Here Now
Charles Smith K Vintners ‘El Jefe’ Stoneridge Vineyard Tempranillo, Washington 2012 750ML ($69.95) $59 special, 5 bottles available
Wine Advocate 92-94 points “Aged in 80% new French oak, the 2012 El Jefe Tempranillo Stoneridge Vineyard gives up classic Christmas spice, cedar and graphite to go with a core of both red and black styled fruit. Medium to full-bodied, elegant and with the tannic grip of the variety, this solid effort will benefit from short-term cellaring and evolve gracefully for over a decade.” WA
Charles Smith K Vintners Northridge Vineyard Merlot, Wahluke Slope 2012 750ML ($59.95) $49 special, 4 bottles available
Wine Advocate 92-95 points “The 2012 Merlot Northridge comes from the Wahluke Slope and is made from 100% Merlot that was aged in 60% new French oak. Vibrant and up-front, with pure layered aromas and flavors of plum liqueur, graphite, mineral and assorted wild flowers, it is full-bodied, sweetly fruited and downright sexy on the palate, with a voluptuous, hard to resist profile. Loaded with fruit, it nevertheless stays graceful and very drinkable. It should drink nicely on release and evolve nicely for upward of a decade.” WA
Charles Smith K Vintners Rock Garden Syrah, Walla Walla Valley 2012 750ML ($69.95) $59 special, 6 bottles available
Wine Advocate 93-95 points “The first vintage for the cuvee, the 2012 Syrah Rock Garden has fabulous aromas and flavors of plum, pepper, earth, spiced meats and underbrush that flow seamlessly to a full-bodied, layered and decadently textured Syrah that has polished tannin, no hard edges and a great finish. Given the amount of fruit and texture, it should be approachable on release, yet evolve gracefully for 10 to 15 years.” WA
Charles Smith K Vintners The Boy Grenache – Syrah, Walla Walla Valley 2013 750ML ($59.95) $49 special, 10 bottles available
Winery notes “88% Grenache, 12% Syrah from the Northridge & River Rock Vineyards. A regal wine. A beautiful ruby robe, velvety and revealing – layer upon layer of supple and refined fruit. Layers of ‘je ne sais quoi,’ complex, sophisticated and elegant wine.”
Charles Smith K Vintners The Creator Cabernet – Syrah, Walla Walla Valley 2012 750ML ($69.95) $59 special, 19 bottles available
Wine Advocate 93-95 points “Moving to the Bordeaux styled releases and a blend of 70% Cabernet and 30% Syrah, the 2012 The Creator offers up a classic bouquet of cassis, lead pencil shavings and hints of herbs to go with a full-bodied, layered and balanced profile on the palate. Possessing fabulous Cabernet character, with rock star texture and building tannin, it will have another 12-15 years of prime drinking.” WA
~~~~~
Champagne Andre Clouet
Arriving October 16
Within Bouzy and Ambonnay, Maison Andre Clouet occupies 8 hectares of vines along gentle sloping land. Focusing on Pinot noir Champagnes, Clouet’s wines tend to be of a rich and concentrated style; adorned in rather lavish packaging, their hyper-ornate labels are reminiscent of the family’s ancestor who was the printer to Louis XV’s royal court at Versailles.
The estate’s Grande Reserve Brut is aged on the lees – a complex interpretation of Pinot. Un Jour de 1911 is a blend of 15-17 year old vintages and is riddled by hand; a very limited number of the cuvee are produced annually – the name dates back to the inaugural bottling of only 1,911 bottles.
Andre Clouet Champagnes Arriving October 16
Andre Clouet Grande Reserve Brut NV 750ML ($39.95) $33 re-arrival special
Case-6 Andre Clouet Grande Reserve Brut NV 750ML ($229.95) $189 pre-arrival special (that’s only $31.50/bottle!)
Case-12 Andre Clouet Grande Reserve Brut NV 750ML ($449.95) $349 pre-arrival special (that’s only $29.08/bottle!)
Antonio Galloni 90 points “The NV Brut Grande Reserve emerges from the glass with layers of hazelnut, pear, spice and dried flower aromas. This rich, creamy wine impresses for its balance and sheer richness. I loved it.” AG
This is the lowest listed price in the USA today!
The average price is $44
Andre Clouet Silver Grand Cru Blanc de Noirs Brut Nature NV 750ML ($49.95) $33 re-arrival special
Case-6 Andre Clouet Silver Grand Cru Blanc de Noirs Brut Nature NV 750ML ($229.95) $189 pre-arrival special (that’s only $31.50/bottle!)
Case-12 Andre Clouet Silver Grand Cru Blanc de Noirs Brut Nature NV 750ML ($449.95) $349 pre-arrival special (that’s only $29.08/bottle!)
100% Grand Cru, 100% Pinot Noir, no dosage
Antonio Galloni 91 points “The NV Brut Nature Silver is naturally a very focused, driven wine given the no-dosage style. This shows wonderful nuance and depth all the way through to the long finish, with bright aromas and flavors but less of the toastiness than some of the house’s other wines. The mousse and finish are both utterly impeccable in their elegance.” AG
This is the lowest listed price in the USA today!
The next best price is $36.89
Andre Clouet Grand Cru Brut Rose NV 750ML ($49.95) $39 pre-arrival special
This is the lowest listed price in the USA today!
The next best price is $42.89
Andre Clouet Brut Millesime 2008 750ML ($69.95) $59 pre-arrival special
Case-6 Andre Clouet Brut Millesime 2008 750ML ($399.95) $319 pre-arrival special (that’s only $53.17/bottle and the lowest listed price in the USA today!)
Case-12 Andre Clouet Brut Millesime2008 750ML ($689.95) $599 pre-arrival special (that’s only $49.92/bottle and the lowest listed price in the USA today!)
Antonio Galloni 92 points “Clouet’s 2008 Brut Millesime shows quite a bit more tension and focus than the 2007, hardly a surprise given then personality of the vintage. Bright, saline notes frame expressive red fruits, flowers and sweet spices. The 2008 Brut is a gorgeous wine with plenty of appeal today, but it will also develop beautifully in bottle. Stylistically it is less overt than the 2007 but places more emphasis on length. Brut Millesime is mostly Pinot, with 30-40% Chardonnay.” AG
Andre Clouet Un Jour de 1911… Brut NV 750ML ($89.95) $69 pre-arrival special
Case-6 Andre Clouet Un Jour de 1911… Brut NV 750ML ($479.95) $379 pre-arrival special
Antoni Galloni 93+ points “The NV Grand Cru Cuvee 1911 emerges from the glass with the most haunting of perfumes. Sweet rose petal and jasmine are some of the nuances that emerge over time. Despite recent disgorgement, the purity of the fruit and the extraordinary elegance of the mousse are hard to miss. This is an exceptional, elegant version of the 1911 that should drink beautifully for years to come. The bottle I tasted needed quite a bit of air to open up, so readers should be patient with the wine at this stage.” AG
This is the lowest listed price in the USA today!
The next best price is $73.66
~~~~~
Large-Format Bottles of Champagne
Bigger may very well be better…
Champagne Large-Format Arriving In October:
Gaston Chiquet Grand Cru Blanc de Blancs d’Ay Brut NV 1.5L ($149.95) $99 pre-arrival special
Stephen Tanzer 92 points “Pale straw. High-pitched aromas of lime and lemongrass, with chalky mineral and floral notes adding complexity. Taut, incisive citrus fruit and mineral flavors show impressive clarity and pick up notes of green apple and honeysuckle with air. Clean and nervy on the mineral-driven finish.” ST
Wine Spectator 91 points “A chalky version, with bright acidity and a lively bead framing hints of pineapple, pastry cream, glazed apricot and fresh ginger. Focused and finely knit.” WS
This is the lowest listed price in the USA today!
Gaston Chiquet Carte Verte Premier Cru Brut Tradition NV 1.5L ($99.95) $89 pre-arrival special
Gaston Chiquet Carte Verte Premier Cru Brut Tradition NV 375ML ($27.95) $24 pre-arrival special
Stephen Tanzer 91 points “Light yellow. Suave, floral aromas of poached pear, blood orange, melon and honey. A dusty mineral quality adds lift to spicy red berry and citrus fruit flavors. Closes nervy and long, with resonating minerality and a touch of gingerbread.” ST
Pierre Paillard Grand Cru Brut NV 1.5L ($149.95) $119 pre-arrival special
Pierre Paillard Grand Cru Brut 6L ($999.95) $799 pre-arrival special
Pierre Paillard Grand Cru Brut NV 375ML ($31.95) $27 pre-arrival special
Pierre Paillard Grand Cru Brut NV 750ML ($59.95) $49 pre-arrival special
Josh Raynolds–Vinous 91 points “Light gold, with a faint onion skin cast. Spicy orange zest and honeydew on the fragrant, mineral-accented nose. Dry and tightly focused, offering lively Meyer lemon and melon flavors and a deeper suggestion of nectarine. Finishes with building floral character and excellent tangy persistence, leaving bitter citrus zest and dusty mineral notes behind.” JR
Pierre Paillard Grand Cru Brut Millesime Bouzy 2004 1.5L ($179.95) $149 pre-arrival special
Pierre Paillard Grand Cru Brut Millesime Bouzy 2004 750ML ($99.95) $79 pre-arrival special
Josh Raynolds–Vinous 92 points “Vivid yellow-gold. Potent red berry, blood orange and quince on the perfumed nose, with a chalky nuance adding lift and focus. Offers sappy red fruit and citrus pith flavors that flesh out and deepen with air while picking up a sexy floral quality. Closes with building spiciness, a hint of toasty lees and excellent clarity and length.” JR
Large Format Champagnes Arriving in November:
Egly-Ouriet Tradition Grand Cru Brut 2002 1.5L ($599.95) $445 pre-arrival special
Josh Raynolds–Vinous 93 points “(70% pinot noir and 30% chardonnay): Light yellow-gold. Fresh orchard and pit fruits on the deeply scented nose, with notes of musky rhubarb and smoky
Jean Vesselle Oeil de Perdrix Blanc de Noirs Brut NV 1.5L ($119.95) $99 pre-arrival special
Jean Vesselle Oeil de Perdrix Blanc de Noirs Brut NV 750ML ($59.95) $49 pre-arrival special
Jean Vesselle Oeil de Perdrix Blanc de Noirs Brut NV 375ML ($29.95) $26 pre-arrival special
Antonio Galloni 93 points “Jean Vesselle’s NV Brut Oeil de Perdrix is fabulous. Rich and textured to the core, the Oeil de Perdrix captures the beauty of Bouzy Pinot to the core.
Champagne Hebrart Selection Premier Cru Brut NV 1.5L ($119.95) $89 pre-arrival special
Champagne Hebrart Selection Premier Cru Brut NV 750ML ($59.95) $41.90 pre-arrival special
Terry Thiese-“The SMART MONEY is on this; if it isn’t the ABSOLUE BEST VALUE in the offering it’s in the top two or three. It’s all free-run, 70% old-vines Mareuil PN and 30% CH from Oiry and Chouilly. 75% 2010, and 25% 09-08. Deg 10/2014. More lemon and mirabelles; fantastically chalky, bright, salty, the dosage is just perfect; finish of chalk dust, jasmine, brown butter, endlessly singing. A certain tensile pull will delight lovers of bracing Champagne—but those guys never get fruit like this.”
Pierre Paillard Brut Grand Cru Bouzy NV 1.5L ($149.95) $119 pre-arrival special
Pierre Paillard Brut Grand Cru Bouzy NV 750ML ($59.95) $49 pre-arrival special
Josh Raynolds–Vinous 91 points “Light gold, with a faint onion skin cast. Spicy orange zest and honeydew on the fragrant, mineral-accented nose. Dry and tightly focused, offering lively Meyer lemon and melon flavors and a deeper suggestion of nectarine. Finishes with building floral character and excellent tangy persistence, leaving bitter citrus zest and dusty mineral notes behind.” JR
Large Format Champagnes Available Here Now:
A. Margaine Blanc de Blancs Premier Cru Brut 2006 1.5L ($159.95) $137 special, 1 magnum available
Stephen Tanzer 93 points “Light gold. White peach, pear, smoky minerals and buttered toast on the sexy, highly perfumed nose. At once rich and lithe, with crackling minerality giving lift and verve to the wine’s intense pit and orchard fruit flavors. Sappy, fine-grained and pure, finishing long and precise, with hints of licorice and iodine.”
Vilmart & Cie Grand Cellier d’Or Premier Cru Brut 2007 1.5L ($299.95) $239 special, 3 magnums available
Wine Spectator 94 points “A skein of ground spice unravels through flavors of black cherry coulis, crème de cassis, honeycomb and brioche in this elegant version. Mouthwatering acidity and a lightly chalky texture push through to the lasting finish. Drink now through 2025.” WS
Rene Geoffroy Extra Brut Millesime 2002 1.5L ($319.95) $279 special, 2 magnums available
Josh Raynolds–Vinous Media 94 points “Light, bright gold. Peach nectar, poached pear, passion fruit, smoky lees and white flowers on the perfumed nose. Chewy orchard and pit fruit flavors are broad and palate-staining, with a late note of Meyer lemon adding lift and cut. Finishes with lingering honey, lees and vanilla notes and excellent clarity.” JR
Wine Advocate 92 points “The 2002 Extra Brut Millesime is a rich, broad shouldered wine graced with tons of fruit. Vinification in French oak barriques gives the wine considerable depth, volume and spiciness. Layers of ripe, expressive varietal fruit flow from this rich, dramatic Champagne. A caressing, multi-dimensional finish rounds things out in style. As good as this is – and it is outstanding – I prefer Geoffroy’s wines made in steel. The blend is 60% Pinot Noir, 35% Chardonnay and 5% Pinot Meunier, with 2 grams per liter of dosage”WA
Pierre Gimonnet et Fils Blanc de Blancs Cuis Premier Cru Brut NV 1.5L ($149.95) $119 special, 1 magnum available
Stephen Tanzer 92 points “80% 2010 wine, 10% 2009, 4% 2008, 5% 2007 and 1% 2002; disgorged in May, 2013 after 30 months on its lees): Green-tinged yellow. Intense, mineral-accented aromas of orange zest, pear and white flowers, with an iodiney quality building in the glass. Chewy in texture and nicely concentrated, offering precise citrus and bitter quinine flavors and a strong topnote of dusty minerals. Finishes clean, bright and very long, with lingering chalkiness. This would make a superb match with fresh oysters or crab.” ST
This is the lowest listed price in the USA today!
Guy Charlemagne Blanc de Blanc Grand Cru Reserve Brut NV 750ML ($49.95) $39 special, 25 bottles available
Guy Charlemagne Blanc de Blanc Grand Cru Reserve Brut NV 1.5L ($99.95) $89 special, 12 magnums available
Stephen Tanzer 91 points “(made with fruit from the Cote de Blancs, mostly from Mesnil-sur-Oger; LRGC11): Light yellow. Vibrant lemon, orange zest, jasmine and mineral scents are complemented by deeper notes of anise and buttered toast. Spreads out nicely on the palate, offering lively citrus and orchard fruit flavors and a touch of bitter quinine. Closes smooth and long, with echoing minerality and a touch of bitter pear skin. There’s very good depth here, as well as verve.” ST
This is the lowest listed price in the USA today!
Pierre Peters Cuvee Speciale Les Chetillons Blanc de Blancs Grand Cru Brut 2009 750ML ($119.95) $99 special, 17 bottles available
Pierre Peters Cuvee Speciale Les Chetillons Blanc de Blancs Grand Cru Brut 2009 1.5L ($299.95) $269 special, 6 magnums available
Antonio Galloni 94 points “The 2009 Cuvée Spéciale Les Chétillons is remarkably polished and balanced throughout, with plenty of vintage 2009 radiance. Apricot pit, smoke, peach and spice overtones take shape in a striking Champagne. Although quite open and expressive today, the 2009 is also holding back a considerable amount of pure, unbridled power as well as potential. Ripe and racy to the core, yet with no excess weight, the 2009 stands out for its exceptional balance. Dosage was 4.7 grams per liter, a bit higher than normal. Péters told me he thought the drier vintage needed a little bit more sugar.” AG
The 750ml is the lowest listed price in the USA today!
Pierre Peters Cuvee de Reserve Blanc de Blancs Grand Cru Brut NV 1.5L ($179.95) $149 special, 10 magnums available
Pierre Peters Cuvee de Reserve Blanc de Blancs Grand Cru Brut NV 3L ($499.95) $399 special, 3 jeroboams available
Pierre Peters Cuvee de Reserve Blanc de Blancs Grand Cru Brut NV 750ML ($59.95) $49 special, 21 bottles available
Wine Spectator 91 points “Fresh and floral, with dogwood and spring blossom accents, this mouthwatering blanc de blancs offers a lively bead, carrying flavors of white cherry, fresh ginger, slivered almond and yellow plum. Disgorged February 2015. Drink now through 2018. 900 cases imported.” WS
The magnum and jeroboam are the only listings in the USA today!
Aubry Premier Cru Brut NV 1.5L ($119.95) $89 special, 14 bottles available
Stephen Tanzer 91 points “Bright straw. Pungent aromas of Meyer lemon, pear and fig, with a gingery accent adding lift. Sappy, penetrating citrus fruit and floral flavors are given a refreshingly bitter character by notes of pear skin and peach pit, with a waxy note coming up on the back half. A smoky nuance lingers on the finish, which shows very good clarity and length.” ST
This is the lowest listed price in the USA today!
Gaston Chiquet Grand Cru Blanc de Blancs d’Ay Brut 2005 1.5L ($179.95) $149 special, 4 bottles available
Josh Raynolds 91 points “Green-tinged gold. Exuberant pear, white peach and honey on the nose, with anise, cherry pit and mineral qualities adding complexity. Zesty mineral-accented orchard and pit fruit flavors show very good depth and clarity, picking up a smoky element with air. Finishes sappy, broad and long, with repeating minerality and a hint of smokiness. Disgorged in October, 2013 and bottled exclusively in magnums.” JR
Demarne Val Frison ‘Goustan’ Brut Nature NV 1.5L ($149.95) $99 special, 5 magnums available
Demarne Val Frison ‘Goustan’ Brut Nature NV 750ML ($59.95) $36 special, 3 bottles available
Distributor note “50% pinot noir from Les Clos de la Cote, 50% Chardonnay from Les Cotannes, and all from 2007. As the bulk of a tiny production from a new producer Goustan is a superb first effort, showing a hearty core with vibrant acidity.”
This is the lowest listed price in the USA today!
Paul Dethune Grand Cru Brut NV 3L ($279.95) $219 special, 2 jeroboams available
Paul Dethune Grand Cru Brut NV 750ML ($49.95) $39 special, 14 bottles available
VinopolNote: 70% Pinot Noir, 30% Chardonnay. 30-50% reserve wine. Disgorged July 2013.
Winery note “This champagne’s intense nose and sparkling colour with tints of ripe wheat will seduce you. On the palate, its aromas of underbrush, honeysuckle and bergamot invite you to the forest and the spice market. Its freshness and liveliness are combined with its creamy flavour. A distinguished wine with a delicate honey finish. This Grand Cru champagne expresses all its complexity and deliciousness with a veal filet, foie gras and apple-apricot chutnet, or a grilled beef.”
This is the lowest listed price in the USA today!